Telegraph key



Feb. 15, 1927. 1,618,007

H. HESSELBACH TELEGRAPH K 'Y Filed May 1. 1926 Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

HENRY HESSELIBAOH, OF NEW/V YURK,

Y., ASSIGNOR TO 5. H. BUNN ELL & COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, A COIEtlORATION- OE NEW YORK.

TELEGRAPH KEY.

, Application filed May 1,

This invention relates to telegraph keys of the high speed type in which the key lever vibrates laterally, being shifted in one direction to form the dashes and being equipped with a spring reed for automatically producing a succession of dots, when shifted in the opposite direction. i

These movements. are effected by thrust. ing the thumb and forefinger'in opposite 1 directions against a vertically disposed fiat finger piece at the end ofthe key lever. The speed and complexity of such movements have the effect of tiring u and partially paralyzing the hand of the operator, sometimes with permanent ill effects.

The objects of this invention are to make it possible for the operator to shift, the position of his hand and fingers from time to time, or at any time, to relieve fatigue and attain a morecomfortable operating posture and to provide the structure for this purpose in a simple, inexpensive, easily adjusted and entirely practical form.

These objects are attained by certain novel features of construction, combination and relation of parts. one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 in the drawing referred to is a top plan view of a high speed telegraph key of approved construction having the invention incorporated therein. v

' Figure 2 is a side view of the key showing the finger piece lowered for operation by a fiat wrist movement and indicating in broken lines how the same may bepositioned at the usual horizontal level or at a higher angle.

Figure 3 is an enlarged broken detail view of the adjustable mounting for the finger piece.

Thekey shown being of a standard construction, needs no description other than to point out that it has a key lever 4t pivoted on a vertical axis at 5, with contacts 6 at one side of the same for making the dashes and contacts 7 at the opposite side for automatically producing dots by the vibration of the spring reed 8.

The finger piece by which the lever isvibrated is indicated at 9 in the form of a flat panel shaped'to receive the impact of the thumb and forefinger on opposite sides and supported in vertical alinement at the back end of the key lever.

This finger piece is shown as set into the 1926. Serial No. 105,981.

edge f a supporting lug 10 and secured 1116116111 by rivets 11. The lug 10 is shown as having a centrally disposed reduced shank 12 at its forward end perforated at 13 for the free passage of a securing screw 14-, and

adapted to be held between the jaws 15,16

at the end of the key lever. These j aws'a're shown as formed by cutting a wide slot '17 in the end of the key lever to receive the shank 12 of the fingerpiece'a'nd by cutting a narrower slot 18 inward from-the wider slot to give the jaws; a resilient quality.

The spring jaws are preferably formed or set to exert a gripping pressure on the shank that upon tightening the screw by means of the operating head 21, the shank will be firmly clamped between the two jaws. Re-

leasing the screw enables the finger piece to be shifted upward or downward and the removal of this one screw enables the finger piece being entirely detached.

The latter is an advantage when it is desired to pack the key for shipment or storage sincethe removal of this finger piece leaves the key with no'parts projecting beyond the base. Greater compactness also is obtained by lowering the finger piece to the full line position shown in Figure 2 or below that, this reducing the overall dimensions so that the key may be packed in smaller space. v

The structure disclosed enable the operator to instantly raise or lower the finger piece to suithis own particular preference. Tightening the clamp screw secures the finger piece in the desired adjustment and pres I sure on the finger piece in any direction has no effect upon the holding power of th1s clamp so thatthe finger piece will not work loose under continuous operation.

The spring gripping power of the jaws holds the finger piece in the position to which it is shifted, before the clamp screw is tight-- cued. The placing of the clamp screw on the upper side of the key lever, as viewed in Figure 1, puts it in position where it may be operated by the fingers of the hand which operate the key so that any changes of. adjustment may be effected with the same hand which actuates the key.

In addition to other advantages mentioned, the device is so simple, easily constructed and assembled that it adds but little to the present cost of the. key. Also, the present key structures may be used, practically the only modification of same necessary being to double slot the end of the key lever and 7 provide in it, the passages 19, 20 for the clamp screw.

VJhat is claimed is: A telegraph key havinga key lever vibrating on a vertical axis, said key lever having a vertical slot in the actuating end of the same providing spaced spring jaws, a horizontally disposed combined pivot and clamping screw having an actuating head bearing againstthe outer face of one of said spring jaws and a screw-shank extending freely through said jaw and into engagement with the opposite jaw, whereby the same may be employed to force the jaws toward each other and a vertically disposed finger piece having a shank portion entered between the spring jaws and perforated between said jaws for passage of the shank of the screw, whereby said finger piece is pivoted horizontally to the end of the key lever and is capable of arcuate adjustment in a vertical plane, being resiliently retained in such adjustments by the holding tension of the spring jaws and fixedly secured in any of the positions of vertical adjustment by the clamping action of the securing screw.

In witnesswhereof, I have hereunto set any hand this 28th day of April, 1926.

HENRY HESSELBACH. 

